Speaker
Keywords
communication strateries
multilingual communication
multimodal communication
Short summary
With the rise of inbound tourism in Japan, golf courses increasingly require staff to engage in multilingual, multimodal communication with international visitors. This case study examines the verbal and non‑verbal expressions employed by a Japanese female caddie when assisting foreign golfers. Her written recall revealed many context‑specific expressions not found in English textbooks. A follow‑up interview indicated that she consciously and unconsciously employs various communication strategies, offering valuable insights for English classroom education.
Abstract
With the rapid increase in inbound tourism to Japan, service facilities are welcoming more international visitors than ever before. Golf courses are no exception, and caddies often need to communicate with foreign golfers in English. The purpose of this case study is to investigate how a Japanese female caddie employs both verbal and nonverbal communication when interacting with international customers in her daily work. Initially, she was asked to recall and document the English (or Japanese) expressions and communicative behaviors—including gestures and other nonverbal cues—that she typically employs when assisting foreign golfers. Her written record revealed a rich repertoire of expressions, many of which differ from those typically taught in textbooks or school-based English classes. To gain further insight, a follow-up interview was conducted. The interview revealed that the caddie utilized a wide range of communication strategies, both consciously and unconsciously. These strategies included simplified phrasing, gesture supported explanations, situational paraphrasing, and creative adaptations of familiar English words to fit immediate communicative needs.
These findings indicate that frontline service workers develop practical, context-specific communicative skills that go beyond textbook English. The communication strategies demonstrated in this case can provide valuable insights for educators as well. Integrating real-world workplace communication examples into English curricula is expected to help learners build more flexible and interaction-focused communicative competence. Thus, the results highlight the potential benefits of connecting workplace-based language practices with school-based instruction, particularly for students preparing to engage with international visitors in their future careers.
| Scheduling preference | Anytime on Saturday |
|---|---|
| Title | Beyond Textbook English: Communication Strategies Used by a Japanese Caddie |